Firstly, what is innate knowledge? Innate knowledge is a term used when people believe that we have a substantial amount of knowledge and ideas that are known from birth. Innate knowledge is a rationalist view. There are philosophers who are rationalist-this is that their theory is that we have a priori knowledge (knowledge that doesn’t require sense experience) and synthetic propositions (depends on the world). Some philosophers are empiricist-this is that they have a theory of having a posteriori knowledge (knowledge that is required through our sense experience) and that is of synthetic propositions (dependent on the world and our sense experience).
In my opinion, one cannot gain any knowledge without sense and reasoning. In every situation, there is demonstration of knowledge. In terms of logic, believing what you see and the idea of empiricism makes sense. To gain knowledge in a given situation, we often experience it first time. At the same time, however, our personal set of opinions control how we see things around us.
Something important to consider when looking at the theory of relativism is that it is just a theory. I personally believe it to be a good theory in general, but it should not be interpreted as a foundation for a belief structure. Nor should it be applied to every set of circumstances encountered throughout life. It is purely illogical to assume that one single theory will provide us with the proper guidance required to successfully negotiate every “right or wrong” decision. Relativism allows people to understand that individuals develop belief structures
John Locke and Derek Parfit’s Theories John Locke was an enlightenment thinker who believed that everything people know is based off of their experiences. Every day people encounter different experiences through their conscious behaviors. Locke’s theory of memory criterion states that consciousness over time constitutes identity. Locke believes the self is a “thinking intelligent being that has a reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing, in different times and places.” A person’s identity extends only as far as ones consciousness goes which is a necessary condition of personal identity. In more simple term this means that a person who remembers a behavior or experience from the past is the same person today because they consciously remember that period of time.
Perception as a way of knowing: Vision Perception is hardly a fail-safe way of knowing yet it is also mostly commonly referred to as the first sense through which we know about the world. This sounds counter intuitive but since I personally held the views stated above, I cannot contest importance of perception opposing the other ways of knowing. Instead I'll be analyzing the many problems associated with specifically vision as a form of perception, and how our dominant reliance on vision can create problems as its flaws will be pointed out. As a society, we rely on vision predominantly to inform us about the world around is. For example as I type this entry, I am relying on vision to correct any misspelt words and navigate the microsoft word interface.
Why Matheny fails to answer a question: Do nonhumans have interest? Matheny’s essay is very logically built and step by step reveals and proves to us his believes. He tries to tell us everything in the simplest forms, beginning of course with explaining what he believes in: “The principle of equal consideration of interests asks that we put ourselves in the shoes of each person affected by an action and compare the strengths of her or his interests to those of our own –regardless of whose interests they are.” He makes it clear to us that he ‘will use the word “interests” to describe whatever it is that we value here – all those things that matter to us. We can safely say we all have an interest, at a minimum, in a pleasurable life, relatively free of pain.’ If that is so, it is very logical to suppose that animals deserve to have moral consideration because they can feel pain. But this is where Matheny’s explanation faces the stumbling stone.
In the other hand, if such reasoned conclusions are only built originally upon a organization of sense perceptions, then the arguments what are being considered. They lead us to our most logical conclusions, they can never be said to be certain because they are built upon
This is where one gains a sense of logic and perception. Logic is the art of reasoning and perception is immediate awareness. For example, if a situation occurred and I made a decision based solely on my views, the probability that I would not make an assessment conducive to each person that the decision affects is high. In making a critical decision one would involve a combination of the six characteristics outlined in the first paragraph along with logic and perception; a non-critical thinker would make a decision based on their own perception. Most of us believe we possess good critical thinking skills.
Very often, though, coherence is taken to imply something more than simple logical consistency; often there is a demand that the propositions in a coherent system lend mutual inferential support to each other. So, for example, the completeness and comprehensiveness of the underlying set of concepts is a critical factor in judging the validity and usefulness of a coherent system. A pervasive tenet of coherence theories is the idea that truth is primarily a property of whole systems of propositions, and can be ascribed to individual propositions only according to their coherence with the whole. Though this concept of truth may seem more applicable to aesthetics
The essence of the message of the Analects is the key concept that individuals should think independently, and he strived to define concepts in an abstract, universal manner in which they could be applied to multiple cultures could understand them. When it came to interpersonal relations, Confucius believed in humanity and it’s ability to learn from one another. An example of this is 7.28 where he says, “Maybe there are people who can act without knowledge, but I am not one of them. Hear much, pick the best and follow it, see much, and keep a record of it: this is the best substitute for innate knowledge.” (p. 32). Confucius’ idea of the role of a gentle man was that a man is nothing unless he is a gentleman.